Men and Body Image Issues: What No One Is Talking About

Does this image look familiar to you? It probably does. The Dove Campaign for Real beauty which was launched in 2004 is meant to challenge limited notions of what beauty means and empower women of all ages, colours and sizes. Sure, this social movement for women is important for discussion on body image and perceptions—but what about men? Do they even have body image issues? Do they even get plastic surgery?

Of course they do. We just don’t talk about it very much.

By focusing on female bodies so intensely, men and body image issues are easily overlooked. There’s insane pressure for women to look a certain way, and some men feel this pressure to a certain degree as well. The standard created by society for men is to be at least six feet tall and muscular but lean—which pretty much describes Ryan Gosling. As a woman, even I know that’s unfair. However, not all women would agree with this ideal.

The study below reveals that men think women like a muscular body when they actually prefer an ordinary body.

Men and Women Don’t Agree on the Ideal Physique of a Man

According to the study “Body Image Perception Among Men in Three Countries”, the authors found that men in their 20s in Europe and the U.S desired a body that was about 28 pounds more muscular than themselves. They also assumed women preferred a male body about 30 pounds more muscular than themselves.

Fascinated by these results, the authors presented images of male bodies to 43 college women in Austria. They asked them to choose which body they preferred. Instead of picking a muscular body, they chose average-looking bodies. As noted by the authors, the men think women like a certain body type when they actually prefer an ordinary body. 

Men and Body Image Disorders

Men aren’t immune to body image disorders. Muscle dysmorphia is a disorder in which a person worries about looking too frail or weak. Even if they are already muscular, they constantly fear they look too weak and compulsively exercise. This disorder can interfere with a person’s job, studies, friendships and relationships as they obsessively worry about what others think of their “small” bodies. 

Source: bodybuilding.com

In another study, 24 men with muscle dysmorphia answered questions related to their habits and behaviour. Half of them said they spent more than three hours a day thinking about their muscularity. One man said he missed his high school reunion because he was afraid people would mock his “smallness.”

Men Demand Cosmetic Procedures Now More Than Ever

More men are willing to change their looks through cosmetic procedures now. For the longest time, it was generally assumed that men don’t feel compelled to get plastic surgery like women do. That’s not the case now. Since 2010, there have been dramatic increases in these procedures for men: blepharoplasty, male breast reduction and facelifts. Since ASAPS started collecting statistical data in 1997, they’ve seen a 273% increase in the number of procedures performed on men.

While we don’t talk about men and body image as often as we should, it doesn’t mean it isn’t a problem. The lack of attention on this topic indicates that we as a society don’t see this problem significant—yet. Who knows, maybe there will be a campaign for men and masculinity in the future? It may be a stretch but it would certainly be refreshing to see. 

The Main Reasons Why Older Men Get Plastic Surgery

When it comes to beauty and looks, women are normally pinpointed as the ones most occupied or concerned by it. But they’re not the only people who spend time and money on their appearance. Increasingly more so, it’s men in their 40s and 50s who are shelling out cash to stop their signs of ageing.

However, not everyone agrees with men getting plastic surgery. Male celebrities like Liam Neeson and George Clooney have made public statements about their reluctance of ever getting plastic surgery. Clooney shared his thoughts on men dyeing their hair and getting plastic surgery in a BBC interview:

Source: Popsugar.com. George Clooney shares his opinions on men and plastic surgery.

I’ve seen it happen—particularly on men—I don’t think it really works; I think it actually makes you look older. I’m a big believer in the idea that you can’t try to look younger. You just have to look the best you can at the age you are.

Neeson was later quoted in the Daily Mail saying “Ageing should be done gracefully. I agree with George that the best way to grow older is not to get any work done to your face.”

Let’s not forget these guys are major celebrities though—they’ve made a good living and should be well off if for some reason they never landed another movie role. That’s not quite the case for regular folks. There’s pressure to look young or attractive in the workforce.  That’s one of the main reasons why older men get treatments like Botox; they want to look youthful to compete with colleagues who are decades younger.

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the number of men getting surgical and non-surgical treatments in 2014 went up by 43% compared to the previous year. To put that further in prospective, the number of procedures performed on men has increased by 273% since ASAPS began collecting statistical data in 1997. 

Men in upper management positions make up most of the male clients at SpaMedica.

Dr. Mulholland, a Toronto plastic surgeon, says most of the male clients he sees are in upper management or senior positions at work. He says that men are subject to ageism, as women have been for so long. “These men are seeing signs of ageing that make them look tired, which projects lack of confidence or lack of ability to negotiate in the boardroom,” says Dr. Mulholland. To top it off, younger male colleagues “nip at their heels” and are more than ready to climb the work ladder.

Another big reason why older men seek treatments is that they want to attract younger women. Men in their 60s who are freshly divorced find themselves back in the dating market. Dr. Mulholland says these men tend to gravitate to women in their 30s or 40s. That alone is enough to push men to look into cosmetic treatments.

Most men tend to avoid surgical procedures—the most popular non-surgical treatment for men at SpaMedica is Botox. Laser treatments to smoothen wrinkles and skin are also popular. ASAPS reports that blepharoplasty, male breast reduction and facelifts have increased dramatically over the past 5 years for men, though.

So let’s cut the ladies some slack. Men are increasingly preoccupied with their looks and it’s mainly for work or romantic opportunities.